Sustainable energy Positive & zero cARbon CommunitieS (SPARCS), demonstrates and validates technically and socio-economically viable and scalable solutions, for the planning and rollout of user-driven, smart and integrated energy solutions for the transition to a low-carbon and resource-efficient economy. Our seven cities will demonstrate about 100 actions turning single buildings, blocks, and districts, into energy prosumers. The impacts span economic growth, improved citizens’ quality of life, and environmental impact trajectories towards the EC policy framework for climate and energy, the SET-Plan and the UN Sustainable Development goals. SPARCS targets a 64% carbon emission reduction, 65% increase in the share of RES, and 53% of energy savings, bringing together citizens, companies, research organizations, city planning and technical departments and decision-making entities, transforming cities to carbon-free inclusive communities through co-creation. Lighthouse cities Espoo (FI) and Leipzig (DE), implement large demonstrations. Fellow cities Reykjavik (IS), Maia (PT), Lviv (UA), Kifissia (EL) and Kladno (CZ) prepare for local replication through hands-on feasibility studies.